Garment supporting device



Dec. 20, 1966 H. A. TOMPKINS ETAL GARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE I Filed April 28, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 1' HARRY A. TOMP/(INS and MICHAEL R. KRUPSKY INVENTORS ATTORNEY 1966 H. A. ToMPKlNs ETAL 3,292,829

GARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE I Filed April 28, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 HARRY A. TOMPK/NS and MICHAEL R. KRUPSKY INVENTORS I WX ORA/E Y Dec. 20, 1966 H. A. TOMPKINS ETAL 3,

GARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 28, 1964 HARRYA. TOMPKIIVS and MICHAEL R KRUPS/(Y INVENTORS A TOR/IE) United States Patent 3,292,829 GARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE Harry A. Tompkins, North Bergen, N.J., and Michael R. Krupsky, 20 Corsi Road, Bloomfield, NJ. 07003; said Tompkins assignor to said Krupsky Filed Apr. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 363,119 19 Claims. (Cl. 223-57) This invention relates to garment stretching and blocking devices and more particularly to a device of this class provided with means for supporting a garment in a manner such that the significant portions thereof conform, substantially, to their original size and shape, whereby the garment may be oven dried to a wrinkle-free condition, thereby eliminating the need for subsequent ironing or pressing.

Garment stretchers and blockers of various forms and constructions have heretofore been proposed. However, these do not fulfill the necessary requirements of garment stretchers to be used in automatic or self-service laundry and dry cleaning establishments. Generally, existing such devices are of such character and construction as to require additional ironing or pressing of the garment after it has been removed from the device. Further, the prior devices are not provided with adjustable arrangements, controlled by the user, for properly supporting and retaining the significant portions of the particular garment in its original size and shape.

A garment stretching and drying device made in accordance with this invention is of rugged construction yet simple and convenient to use. The device is provided with various adjustable means, settable by the user, thereby to adjust the device for use with garments of different sizes and to support the particular garment in its original shape and size. Additionally, means are provided for retaining significant portions of the garment, such as the collar, button-strip, etc., in a wrinkle-free condition, whereby the garment, upon being air-dried, is ready to wear, without need of subsequent ironing or pressing. The device finds particular utility in connection with garments of complex shape, such as shirts, which garments heretofore have required machine pressing and hand ironing operations. Although the device is suitable for home use, it is particularly adapted for use in self-service establishments equipped with suitable hot air ovens, each of which will accommodate a plurality of the garment-carrying devices.

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved device for supporting a garment in such manner as to provide for a rapid and thorough drying of the garment in a hot air oven.

An object of this invention is the provision of a garment stretching and blocking device which is adapted for use with garments of diiferent sizes and provided with adjustable means for supporting the garment in its original size and shape.

An object of this invention is the provision of a garment stretching and blocking device arranged and constructed to retain significant portions of a garment in a wrinklefree state whereby the garment is in a condition to be worn after being air dried.

An object of this invention is the provision of a garment stretching and blocking device provided with adjustable means for applying a suitable stressing force to various portions of a relatively heavy and sturdy garment, yet without applying undue stress upon a weak or Worn garment.

An object of this invention is the provision of a garment stretching and blocking device so constructed that a garment which has been dried while supported by the device can be removed from the device without wrinkling.

An object of this invention is the provision of a device 3,292,829 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 ice for supporting a garment in its original size and shape with surfaces of the garment separated by a suitable distance, thereby to eifect a thorough and rapid drying of the garment within a hot air oven.

An object of this invention is the provision of a garment stretching and blocking device so arranged and constructed as to facilitate the placement of a wet garment" thereon, and the removal of the garment therefrom after it has been hot-air dried.

An object of this invention is the provision of a garment stretching and blocking device provided with calibrated means for stretching a wet garment to its original shape and size, and provided with means for firmly retaining the garment in such stressed condition without the necessity of buttoning-up the garment. I

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as defining the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had for the latter purpose to the claims appended hereto.

Although the invention will be described hereinbelow with specific reference to a shirt stretching and blocking device, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that the device is adaptable for use with other garments such as, for example, suit coats, topcoats, jackets, dresses, skirts, etc.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a stretching and blocking device made in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is, essentially, an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along a vertical, central plane through the central supporting tube, with certain components omitted and other components shown in elevation;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along the line HIIII of FIGURE 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a similar horizontal, cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 2;

I FIGURES is an enlarged, isometric view of one of the sleeve-stretching members, with parts thereof shown in cr0ss section;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, isometric view of the gripping mechanism for clampingly securing the button and button hole portions of the garment;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIGURE 6 and drawn to an enlarged scale; I

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, isometric view of the collarsmoothing mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line1'IXIX of FIGURE 8 and drawn to an enlarged sca e;

FIGURES 10 and 11 are side and end views, respectively, of one of the springs of the collar-smoothing mechanism; and

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary, isometric view showing the collar-smoothing mechanism attached to the shirt collar.

Reference, now, is made to FIGURE 1 The primary supporting member for the device comprises a central tubular member 10 provided with diametrically-opposed, longitudinally-extending slots, only one such slot 11 being visible in this particular view. The walls defining these .slots serve as guides for a pair of opposed anms, such as the one visible arm 12. This arm is adjustably and pivotally coupled to a cross link 13, which link is, in turn, pivotally connected to a torso take-up member 14- comprising a hollow tube of generally square cross-section. A cooperating cross link 15 is pivotally connected to the 3 link 13, as well as to the main tube and the member 14. It may here be pointed out that similar components extending from the opposite side of the tube 10 are identified by primed, similar reference numerals. The lower ends of the cross links and 15 are adjustably connected to the respective take-up members 14, 14', as will be described in more detail hereinbelow. Slidably positioned within the tube 10 is an operating rod 16 carrying a handle 17. Axial movement of the operating rod results in a corresponding upward or downward movement of horizontal arm 12, thereby expanding or, contracting the cross links 13, 15 and 13,- 15' to effect an outward or inward movement of the members 14, 14' relative to the tube 10 and substantially in a common plane containing the tube.

At this point, reference is made to the cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2, which clearly shows the diametrically-opposed slots 11, 11', formed in the main tube 10, with thearms 12, 12' extending therethrough. These arms are secured to the operating rod 16 between spaced washers 20, 21, which washers are confined between the side walls of the arms and the respective pins 22, 23 driven into holes formed in the operating rod. Each of -the arms is provided with apertures 24, 24' defined by lower walls having a plurality of spaced, arcuate portions for accommodating the respective bolts 25, 25 passing through the cross links 13, 13 and secured in place by nuts 26, 26'. It is clear that a transfer of the bolts from the illustrated positions to the adjacent a-rcuate slot portions will increase the spacing between the torso take-up members 14, 14', see FIGURE 1.

The actual construction of the assembly just described is shown in FIGURE 3 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIII1I of FIGURE '2. It will be 44', having outwardly-extending flanges, are mounted for,

sliding movement within the respective retainer members 41, 41 and are. biased outwardly by a compression spring 45 passing through aligned holes formed in the operating rod and the base portions of the retainer members, said spring having ends positioned within the aligned bores formed in the two pawl members. The described arrangement constitutes a ratchet mechanism whereby the operating rod 16 may be moved upwardly to bring the, pawl members to rest upon selected, aligned detents, thereby to effect a desired spread of the torso takeup members. As long as the ,pawl members are oriented to engage the detents, the take-up members remain in the s'pread-apart positions. In order to return the take-up members toward the post 10, the rod 16 is first rotated to free the pawl members from the detents and then the rod is moved downwardly. garment will, of course, determine the maximum extent to which the torso takeup members are to be spread apart.

' The vertical'spacing between the detents is chosen so that are spaced somewhat from the cross arms 12, 12'. It is pointed out that the described assembly of the cross arms 12, 12' to the operating rod 10 permits rotation of the rod relative to the cross arms, but translatory movement of the rod imparts a vertical movement to the cross arms.

Reverting again to FIGURE 1, the lower end of th take-up member 14 has a bracket 35' welded thereto, which bracket is provided with a vertical slot. A connecting pin 36', carried by the cross link 15', passes through such slot. The lower end of the corrresponding cross link 15 is similarly coupled to the lower end of the memiber 14.

From the description given to this point, it is apparent that the lateral spacing between the torso takeup' members 14, 14'.i.s controlled by axial movement of the oper 'ating rod 16. The lower end of the main tube is closed by a plug 37 which is secured in place by a plurality of set screws such as the set screw 38 visible in FIGURE 1. The plug also serves as a lower bearing for the operating rod, see also the lower portion of FIGURE 2. When the handle 17 is pulled downwardly to the fullest extent, wherein the cross arms 12 (and 12') engage the plug 37, the takeup members 14, 14' are drawn close to the main tube 10, thereby facilitating the placement of a shirt, or the like, over the device, in such manner that these members will engage the body portions of the garment, directly under the sleeves, when the handle 17 is moved upwardly. Formed in diametrically-opposed wall portions of the tube 10 are a plurality of inwardly-directed detents, only the detents 40 being visible in the view presented in FIGURE 1.

a fixed reference mark 46, carried by thecross arm 12 i (see FIGURE 2) may be aligned with graduated markings 47 provided on the outer surface of the tube 10 (see FIGURE 1) such marking being calibrated in shirt sizes. I

With continued reference to FIGURE 1, a flat neck band 50, made of a suitable spring material such as, for example, Phosphor bronze, is rigidly attached to a vertical supporting post 51, the lower end 52 of this post being offset and secured to the tube 10 by a nut 53 and the upper, free end of the post being offset and forming a hanger by means of which the device may be suspended from a suitable bar or rail. Secured to the neck band, near the free ends thereof, are a pair of cooperating latching members 54, 55 having spherical end pieces secured thereto. These members are arranged to operate like the snap latch commonly found on womens purses. Thus, when the ends of the neck band are pressed toward each other, the ball portions of the members 54 and 55 will retain the neck band in such contracted position as the shirt is being positioned on the device. After the collar of the shirt has been buttoned, the members 54 and 55 are unlatched whereby the neck band expands and main tains a radial pressure against the inner portion of the collar.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the manner in which the neck band supporting post is secured to the main tube 10. The end of the tube is closed by a plug 56 secured in position by set screws 57, 58. The offset lower end 52, of the.

supporting post 51, is disposed in a diametric slot formed in the upper portion of the plug. The nut 53, having a threaded shank passing through a hole formed in the offset end 52 and threaded into a threaded hole formed in the plug, is provided with an axial hole receiving the operating rod 16. Thus, this nut serves also as the upper bearing for the rod.

The sleeve-stretching members of the device are identified by the numerals 60, 60', in FIGURE 1. These members are of identical construction and are pivotally connected to the respective torso take-up members 14, 14'. The construction of these members will now be described with specific reference to FIGURE 5. The sleeve-stretch: ing member 60 is formed of two complementary frame members 61', 62'. preferably made of aluminum, and mechanically coupled together by means of bushings 6366'. As shown in the cross-sectional view of the The size of the particular Preferably, the lower end of the bushing 66' is spot welded to one of the frame members to prevent'the bushing from becoming separated from the frame members during normal use of the device. The bushings 63, 64' and 65' are similarly constructed and arranged although, in these particular cases, the bushings receive the ends of vertical rods which have opposite ends welded, or otherwise attached to the frame members 61, 62'.

The lateral spread of the frame members 61' and 62' is limited by a flexible cable, or cord 70' passing over the pulleys 71'74 and having ends fastened to a drum 75 which drum is carried by a shaft that is rotatable within spaced, aligned bushings secured to the two frame members. An operating cord, or flexible cable, 78' has one end attached to a knob 79' and the other entwined around and secured to the drum. By pulling on the knob, the cord 70 is Wound on the drum thereby pulling the frame members 61, 62 toward each other. A rod 80, secured to the lower frame member, extends through a bushing 81 secured to the take-up member 14 whereby the sleeve-stretching member may be rotated to facilitate the placement of the shirt on the device.

In FIGURE 1, the sleeve-stretching member 60 is shown rotated to what may be called its folded-back position, whereas the similar member 60 is shown in the extended position. When placing the shirt on the device, the user extends his hand through the right shirt sleeve and pulls the knob 79' to contract sleeve-stretching member 60.

After this sleeve is inserted over the member 60, release of the knob permits the member to expand thereby to apply a continuous stretching force to the sleeve. The body of the shirt is draped over the device and the sleevestretching member 60 is similarly passed through the other shirt sleeve. The shirt collar is arranged symmetrically about the contracted collar band and the collar is buttoned, after which the latching members 54, 55 are separated to permit the band to expand.

Two shoulder pads 80, 80 (FIGURE 1), comprising wire screens carried by tubular frameworks, are positioned over and secured to rods having upwardy-offset portions extending along the inner surface of the neck band 50 and pivotally attached thereto by pipe clamps, the clamp 81' being'visible in this particular view of the device. These pads are retained in the illustrated horizontal positions by means of the rods 82, 82', each such rod having its lower end pivotally secured to the main tube and its upper end pivotally secured to the rod underlying the respective pad. These pads are disposed within the shirt and support the shirt shoulder portions in somewhat spread positions, thereby also maintaining a lateral spacing between the front and back portions of the shirt. Thus, when the shirt-carrying device is suspended within a drying oven, upwardly-directed hot air passes along the interior as well as the exterior surfaces of the shirt, thereby resulting in a faster drying cycle and a complete drying of all portions of the shirt.

The two front portions of the shirt, one carrying the buttons and the other provided with the button holes, are retained in a taut position by means of a gripping mechanism generally identified by the numeral 85 in FIGURE 1. This mechanism, which is secured to the main tube 10 by means of the brackets 86 and 87, is constructed and arranged as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, to which reference now is made.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of the gripping mechanism and FIGURE 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIGURE 6. The mechanism comprises a base plate. 90 having a longitudinallyextending bar 91 secured thereto. Also secured to the base plate are the brackets 86 and 87 by means of which the mechanism is securedto the main tube of the device. These brackets have flat portions abutting the lower sur- .face of the base plate and offset ends terminating in armate portions conforming to the radius of the main tube. Thus, when these brackets are secured to the main tube, as by screws or rivets, the gripping mechanism is rigidly secured to the tube.

A pair of right angle brackets 92, 93, shown in disassembled position in FIGURE 6 for purposes of clarity,

are secured to the base plate by the respective screws 94 and 95. These brackets are provided with aligned sets of holes receiving the ends of the parallel, spaced rods 96 and 97, which rods form bearings for the finger-operable plates 98 and 99. Each of the plates 98 and 99 is a unitary member having longitudinally-extending, arcuate portions conforming to the diameter of the rods 96, 97, offset side portions 100 and 101 and curled-over side portions 102 and 103, respectively. A coiled spring 104, carried by the forward end of the rod 96, has one olfset end passing through an aperture formed in the base plate and another olfset end abutting the finger-operable plate 98, the end of said plate 98 being provided with a slot to clear the body portion of the spring. A similar spring 104' is carried on the opposite end of the rod 96. These two springs are pretensioned to apply biasing forces in a 'direction to maintain the straight, oifset end 100, of the fingeroperable plate 98, in firm engagement with the upper surface of the base plate 90. Two similar springs are carried by the rod 97 and operatively associated with the finger-operable plate 99, only the forward spring 105 being visible in the drawings.

The bar 91 serves as a support for the operator's thumb while the operators fingers grasp the curled side of one or the other finger-operable plates 98, 99, thereby to rotate the grasped plate and raise the straight, oifset side of the plate from the base plate. Such one-hand operation of the gripping mechanism leaves the other hand free for insertion of the garments button and button hole centerpiece into the space between the base plate and the appropriate finger-operable plate. Upon release of the finger-operable plate, the plate is biased to its normal posi tion by the associated, coiled springs, thereby applying a gripping pressure to these portions of the shirt and preventing slippage thereof when the torso takeup members are spread apart to stretch the shirt to the original size.

In summary, and referring to FIGURE 1, the device is conditioned for receiving a shirt by first rotating and pulling the handle 17 downwardly to move the torso takeup members 14, 14' toward the main tube 10. The neck band 50 also is contracted by pressing the ball portions 54, 55 to the overlapping, latched positions, and the sleevestretching member 60 is rotated to the illustrated position. The right sleeve of the shirt is inserted over the sleevestretching member 60' while such member is contracted by pulling upon the knob 79. The left shirt sleeve is similarly inserted over the sleeve-stretching member 60 whereupon such member is rotated to extended position. The shoulder pads 80 and 80' now underlie and support the shoulder portions of the shirt. Next, the shirt collar is buttoned and the latching members 54, 55 are released, whereby the neck band 50 expands into engagement with the interior surface of the collar. The operator now inserts the button hole and button portions of the shirt between the base plate and finger-operable plates of the gripping mechanism 85, pulling these shirt portions downwardly so that they are grasped in smooth, taut conditions. With all significant portions of the shirt now retained and supported in proper position, the handle 17 is pushed upwardly to expand the torso takeup members to the desired extent, as indicated by the position of the reference mark (carried by the horizontal bar 12) along the calibrated markings 47 provided on the main tube 10.

Specifically, when the fixed reference mark is aligned with the scale mark 15, the body of the shirt is stretched to a size 15 and will be retained in such size during the drying process by reason of the pawls (disposed within the tube 10) and the cooperating, inwardly-directed detents 40.

A device for retaining the outer layer of the collar, and particularly the collar tips, in smooth, wrinkle-free condition, will now be described, with reference to FIGURES 8-12. As shown in FIGURE 8, the collar-smoothing device comprises an upper band 110 and a cooperating lower band 111, said bands being made of asuitable spring material such as, for example, Phosphor bronze. Each band includes integral, aligned tabs 112 and 113 having coiled springs 114 secured thereto. As shown in the side and top views of FIGURES 10 and 11, respectively, each spring has a generally fiat, or oblong, configuration with the end convolutions 115 and 116 of reduced width. The aligned tabs 112 and 113 (see FIGURE 9), extend into the associated spring and are provided with aligned grooves 117 and 118, respectively. The end convolutions of the associated spring 114 are snapped into such grooves whereby the springs remain attached to the tabs.

Referring back to FIGURE 8, the upper band 110 has a notch 119 formed at one end and a small, beaded chain 120 attached to the opposite end, said chain carrying a metal tag 121. The lower band 111 has integral, upwardly-extending extensions 122, 123, each extension carrying the outwardly-directed, pointed pins 124, 125, respectively. A third, similar pin 126 extends outwardly from the center tab 113.

After the shirt has been placed on the garment stretching and blocking device, as described hereinabove, the collar-smoothing device (FIGURE 8) is inserted into position. This is done by inserting the upper band 110 under.

the collar and sliding the band upwardly until the top surface of the band engages the fold in the collar. Since the collar is buttoned and the neck band50 (see FIG- URE 1) is in the expanded position, the collar is retained in its original size. When the band 110 has been inserted under the collar, the chain 120 is inserted into the notch 119 and the ends of this band are pulled toward each other until the band tightly encircles the inner portion of the shirt collar, the inner surface of such collar portion being engaged by the neck band 50. The band 110 is retained in the described, tightened position by the beaded chain cooperating with the notch 119. It is here pointed out that the axial separation of the bands 110 and 111, of the collar-smoothing device, is somewhat greater than the corresponding dimension of the collar. The central portion of the lower band 111 now is pressed upwardly and the rear pin 126 pressed through the outer layer of the shirt collar at a point close to the lower edge thereof. Upon release of the lower band 111, the biasing force of the proximate spring 114 causes the pin 126 to apply a stretching force to the outer fold of the collar, between the upper band 110 and such pin.

The user now presses one end of the lower band 111 upwardly to compress the proximate spring 114 to the extent required to press the pointed pin 124 through the shirt collar tip at a point proximate to the pointed end of such tip. Upon release of the lower band, the spring causes the pin 124 to apply a stretching force to such collar tip. The other collar tip is similarly pressed over the pin 125. It will now be clear that the outer layer of the shirt collar, that is, the collar proper, is stretched in an axial direction by the force exerted thereon by the three pins 124-126 and the three springs 114.

The fragmentary, isometric view of FIGURE 12 shows the collar-smoothing device inserted under the shirt collar 130. The collar is buttoned, the latching members 54, 55 are unfastened and the collar band 50 is expanded. The upper band 110, of the collar-smoothing device, is

The garment supporting device, carrying the shirt, may now be suspended in a drying oven arranged to provide a continuous upward flow of heated air. Although the torsg talgeup members 14, 14 (see FIGURE 1) are expanded to a given shirt size, the front and back body portions of the shirt are separated from each other by a distance determined by the width of the takeup members and the diameter of the center supporting tube 10. The shoulder portions of the shirt are expanded by the shoulder pads 80, Thus, both the inner and outer surfaces of the shirt are exposed to the heated air, thereby resulting in a rapid, thorough air-drying of the'shirt. The button and button hole edges of the shirt are retained in a taut condition by the gripping mechanism 85, the body'of the t shirt is retained under a lateral stressing force by the torso takeup members, the sleeves are stretched by the sleeve stretches 60, 60, the shoulder portions are supported by the shoulder pads 80, 80' and the collar is subjected to a. radial expanding force by the neck band 50 and an axial force by the collar-smoothing device shown in FIGURE '8. Thus, all significant portions of the shirt are retained in. wrinkle-free conditions during the air-drying operation.

After the shirt has been air-dried, the collar-smoothing device is removed and the collar band 50 islatched to the contracted position. These operations are performed simply and conveniently with a minimum possibility of wrin kling the collar. The gripping mechanism is operated to free the button and button hole portions of the shirt and the operating rod is rotated and pulled downwardly to its fullest extent, thereby contracting the torso takeup members and freeing the body of the shirt. Thus, the shirt may be removed from the supporting device in a wrinklefree condition, ready to wear.

Having now described the invention and its mode of operation, those skilled in this art will be able to make various changes and modifications in the illustrated construction and arrangement of the parts without thereby departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionasj set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A garment supporting device comprising,

(a) a central support,

(b) a pair of elongated members supported from said support, said members being disposed on opposite sides of the support and substantially coplanar therewith, each of the said members being supported by a pair of pivotally-connectedcross links having inner ends pivotally-coupled to said support and outer ends. pivotally-coupled to an associated elongated member,

(c) a pair of sleeve members, each sleeve. member being pivotally carried by an associated elongated member and rotatable in a plane normal to that of the elongated member,

(d) an arc-uate'neck band of resilient material carried by said support and spaced from one end thereof, and

(e) actuating means for simultaneously effecting a pivot-al movement of the cross links to adjust the lateral spacing between each of the said elongated members and the support.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein said neck band is a flat strip made of spring material and carries cooperating, finger-operable, latch-ing members for temporarily retaining the neck band in a contracted condition.

3. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the said actuating means comprises an operating rod mounted for axial movement relative to said central support and mechanically coupled to both of said pairs of pivotallyconnected cross links.

4. The invention as recited in claim 1, including cooperating means carried by said central support and actuating means to retain said elongated members in pre-. determined spaced positions relative to said central support.

5. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the said sleeve members comprises spaced, complementary frame members; spring means biasing the frame mem bers apart; and means limiting the maximum spacing between the frame members.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5, including spaced sets of pulleys carried by each frame member, a drum member rotatably carried by the frame members, manually-operable means for rotating said drum member, and a flexible member passing over the pulleys and having ends secured to said drum member.

7. The invention as recited in claim 1, in combination with a pair of shoulder pad members supported by the said tubular support and disposed on opposite sides thereof, each shoulder pad member comprising a mesh body portion pivotally coupled to the said neck band.

8. The invention as recited in claim 1, in combination with a collar-smoothing device which comprises spaced upper and lower open bands of resilient material; a plurality of springs mechanically coupled to each of said bands; adjustable means for clampingly securing the upper said band about the said arcuate neck band; and means for securing the tips of a garment collar to ends of the lower said band.

9. The invention as recited in claim 1, including a gripping mechanism carried by said central support and disposed longitudinally thereof, said mechanism arranged to clampingly retain the button and button hole portions of a garment in fixed position relative to the said support.

10. The invention as recited in claim 9, wherein the said gripping mechanism comprises an elongated base plate secured to said central support; a longitudinallyextending bar carried by the base plate and spaced therefrom; a pair of elongated garment gripping members mounted for rotation about parallel, spaced axes, one side of each garment-gripping member adapted to engage the said base plate and the other side being curled over and laterally spaced from said bar; and spring means normally biasing each garment-gripping member to maintain the said one side thereof in engagement with said base plate.

11. A garment supporting device comprising,

(a) a tubular member having inwardly-directed,

aligned detents formed in opposed wall portions,

(-b) means forming opposed longitudinal slots in the wall of said tubular member at the lower end thereof,

(c) an operating rod disposed within the tubular member and extending from said lower end,

(d) means mounting the operating rod for angular and axial movement relative to the tubular member,

(e) a pair of elongated take-up members,

(f) corresponding sets of pivotally-connected cross links supporting the take-up members from opposite sides of the tubular member,

(g) a cross arm carried by said operating rod and extending through the said slots,

(h) coupling means pivotally-connecting the ends of said cross arm to a corresponding one of each set of cross links,

(i) a pair of pawl members carried by the operating rod in the vicinity of the said detents,

(j) spring means normally biasing the pawl members toward the inner wall of said tubular member,

(k) a fiat, arcuate neck band made of resilient material carried by and spaced from the other end of the tubular member,

(1) latching means for retaining the neck band in a contracted position, and

(m) a pair of sleeve members each sleeve member being pivotally carried by an associated takeup member.

12. The invention as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the sleeve members comprises a pair of spaced complementary frame members; spring means normally biasing the frame members apart a predetermined distance; and means operable to compress said spring means thereby to reduce the distance between the frame members.

13. The invention as recited in claim 11, wherein said coupling means comprises apertures formed in the end portions of said cross arm, each aperture being defined by a plurality of arcuate, adjacent wall portions; and coupling members carried by the associated cross link and extending through the associated aperture.

14. The invention as recited in claim. 13 wherein the said cross arm carries a reference mark cooperating with markings carried by-said tubular member and calibrated in terms of garment size.

15. The invention as recited in claim 11, in combination with a pair of shoulder pad members supported by said tubular member and lying substantially in a common plane normal to the axis of the tubular member; and means pivotally coupling the shoulder pad members to the said neck band.

16. The invention as recited in claim 11, including a garment-gripping mechanism carried by the said tubular member and disposed longitudinally thereof, said mechanism being operable to clampingly secure the button and button hole portions of a garment in fixed position relative to the said tubular support.

17. The invention as recited in claim 16, wherein the garment-gripping mechanism comprises a flat, elongated base plate secured to the said tubular member and extending longitudinally thereof to a point proximate to the said neck band; a bar secured to the base plate and having a central portion spaced therefrom; a pair of garment-gripping members positioned on either side of said bar, each garment-gripping member having a first side spaced from the central portion of the bar and a second side engaging the upper surface of the base plate; means mounting the garment-gripping members for rotation about spaced axes parallel to the central portion of said bar; and spring means biasing the garment gripping members to press the second sides thereof into firm engagement with the base plate.

18. The invention as recited in claim 17, wherein the first side of each garment-gripping member is curled along an axis parallel to the central portion of said rod.

19. The invention as recited in claim 11, in combination with a collar-smoothing device which comprises spaced upper and lower arcuate bands of resilient material; a plurality of springs, each spring having ends secured to each of said bands; adjustable means for clampingly securing the upper said band about the said arcuate neck band; and outwardly-directed pointed pins carried at the ends of the lower said band.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,959,626 5/1934 Huebsch 223-521 2,089,916 8/ 1937 Liebowitz 22352.1 2,353,741 7/1944 Matthews et al. 223 2,342,833 12/ 1947 Tanzer 223-72 3,008,613 11/ 196-1 Paris 22369 3,198,407 8/1965 Hughes 22357 3,216,633 11/1965 Paris 223-70 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A GARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE COMPRISING, (A) A CENTRAL SUPPORT, (B) A PAIR OF ELONGATED MEMBERS SUPPORTED FROM SAID SUPPORT, SAID MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SUPPORT AND SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR THEREWITH, EACH OF THE SAID MEMBERS BEING SUPPORTED BY A PAIR OF PIVOTALLY-CONNECTED CROSS LINKS HAVING INNER ENDS PIVOTALLY-COUPLED TO SAID SUPPORT AND OUTER ENDS PIVOTALLY-COUPLED TO AN ASSOCIATED ELONGATED MEMBER (C) A PAIR OF SLEEVE MEMBERS, EACH SLEEVE MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY AN ASSOCIATED ELONGATED MEMBER AND ROTATABLE IN A PLANE NORMAL TO THAT OF THE ELONGATED MEMBER, (D) AN ARCUATE NECK BAND OF RESILIENT MATERIAL CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT AND SPACED FROM ONE END THEREOF AND (E) ACTUATING MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY EFFECTING A PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE CROSS LINKS TO ADJUST THE LATERAL SPACING BETWEEN EACH OF THE SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS AND THE SUPPORT. 